Senate takes key step toward funding ICE and border patrol with only GOP votes

With Congress at a stalemate over how to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Republicans took a key step to tee up a party-line measure that would fund only the most controversial immigration programs — to eventually reopen the government completely.

The GOP effort to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol without any Democratic support moved ahead after a marathon overnight session known as a "vote-a-rama" that stretched into the early hours of Thursday morning.

The chamber adopted the Senate GOP budget blueprint by a vote of 50-48, with all Democrats present opposed. Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, broke ranks with their party, voting against the immigration funding.